Review Guidelines

ENGL215-001: English Composition II
Guidelines for Writing a Film Review

Task
Write a review of the film, Wit, which tells the story of a woman's fight with cancer. In your review make an observation about what the film seems to say regarding the relationships healthcare providers have (or should have) with their patients.

Objectives

Summarizing is one of the important skills you must master in order to write effective research. In order to use someone else's material to support an idea you have, you must effectively summarize that person's ideas. Another important skill you must possess as a researcher is the ability to review what other people are trying to do based on what you read. It isn't enough simply to summarize what they say; you must also be able to discern their intentions, their assumptions, and their often private agendas. The film review will require you to summarize passages of the film, but it will also ask you to analyze what the director of the film is trying to accomplish. You'll need to ask questions like these: How does the director, Mike Nichols, view the health care industry? What role does he feel that compassion plays in a person's physical and/or mental health? How can or should health care providers demonstrate compassion and empathy for their patients? How or in what ways do they often fail to do this? With what results? How might the health care industry better serve its clients?

Directions

Follow these directions as you write your review:

As you watch the film, attempt to discover what you think the director, Mike Nichols, is trying to accomplish beyond simply telling the story of a woman's fight with cancer. Record your observations as they occur to you while watching the film.
Observe how Nichols accomplishes his objective. Write down places in the film to which you might refer that illustrate the strategies Nichols uses for making his purpose clear.
Read through any of the articles I've provided you on bed-side manners, looking for statements you might use to support your observations about the film. See below for citations of these articles.
Use signal phrases to introduce borrowed information in your review. See pp. 233-236 of your textbook for samples.
Cite your sources on a Reference page using APA guidelines you'll find in your textbook (See pp. 236-241). You'll need to study the examples for citations of films, journal articles, and web sites, if you use them.
Submit your review according to the directions in the syllabus regarding font size, margins, use of a cover page, length, etc.
In addition to a hard copy, submit an electronic copy of your review to me in Word or WordPerfect either on a floppy disk or by attaching it to an e-mail to me at closserb@andrews.edu.

Suggested Outline

Although you are free to organize your review as you choose, Here is an outline you might follow which should result in an effective review:

First ParagraphProvide a brief statement about effective relationships between healthcare workers and patients and support it from your reading of articles on bedside manners. In a sentence or two, summarize the plot of Wit, briefly telling what it is about. Finish the paragraph with a statement about what you think Mike Nichols, the director, is attempting to do in the film.
Middle paragraphsDiscuss how the director accomplishes his purpose. Mention a strategy you notice, discuss this strategy, then illustrate it by referring to the film. Repeat this process until you have analyzed each of the strategies you want to discuss. Refer to your reading where appropriate.
AlternativeAfter reading the Davidhizer/Shearer article, use the author's major points about how to develop effective bed-side manners to discuss where health-care workers in the film illustrate or fail to illustrate these principles. Discuss how they do this with references to the film.
Final paragraphDiscuss how the film affects viewers. Use yourself as an example of how reviewers respond to the film. Decide what you feel about the film, then assume that other viewers feel similarly. But talk about how the typical viewer of the film responds rather than how you respond personally.
ReferencesInclude references to each source you use in APA style. Alphabetize by last name.

Web Sites

If you use a web site as one of your sources, print out a copy of the web site and write the URL on the copy if it is not already there.

Due

A rough draft of this assignment is due by class time on Monday, September 19. Come with whatever you have written, even if you are not completely finished, but try to have a complete draft. You'll have an opportunity to share your draft with members of the class who will be able to make suggestions for revision The revised draft of your review will be due by noon on Monday, September 26. NOTE: This is a change from the syllabus.

Writing Center

You are encouraged to take your Film Review to the Writing Center for a reading. Make an appointment by calling 3358. Allow time to use the consultant's suggestions to make revisions.

Sample
You can see a sample of the film review written for an earlier section of this course. This review, written by Adrienne Redding, analyzes how the film, Dances with Wolves, challenges traditional views of Native Americans and invites viewers to shift their allegiances from the U.S. military to the Native Americans. Click here to read the review.

References

References
Buckingham, M. Nurses must take time to talk to their patients... 'Nurses' bedside manner: is it deteriorating?" British Journal of Nursing, 11(11): 734.
Castledine, G. (2004). Castledine column: The importance of the nurse-patient relationship. British Journal of Nursing, 13(4), 213.
Davidhizar, R., & Shearer, R. (1998, March). Improving your bedside manner. Journal of Practical Nursing 48(1), 10-4.
Gillan, J. (1999, January 27-February 4). Arena: bedside manner misses the point. Nursing Times 95(4), 22.
Gooderidge, C. (1999, January). Is your bedside manner negligent? Professional Nurse, 14(4), 291.
Physician bedside manner linked to malpractice suit: laugh, listen to patients to reduce risk. (1997, May). Patient Focused Care 5(5), 58-9.
Schrof, J. M. (1998, December 21). Required course: Bedside manner 101: Why doctors shouldn't touch that door handle. U. S. News & World Report 125(24), 66.
Tabar, P. (2002, April). PDA analytical tools: the new bedside manner. Healthcare Informatics , 19(4): 14, 16.
Vesey, M. (1999, Nov). Prejudice makes a very poor bedside manner. World of Irish Nursing 7(9): 24-5.

Questions?

Call (3172), stop by (Nethery Hall 116), or e-mail me (closserb@andrews.edu), if you have questions.

Task	Write a review of the film, *Wit*, which tells the story of a woman's fight with cancer. In your review make an observation about what the film seems to say regarding the relationships healthcare providers have (or should have) with their patients.
Objectives	Summarizing is one of the important skills you must master in order to write effective research. In order to use someone else's material to support an idea you have, you must effectively summarize that person's ideas. Another important skill you must possess as a researcher is the ability to review what other people are trying to do based on what you read. It isn't enough simply to summarize what they say; you must also be able to discern their intentions, their assumptions, and their often private agendas. The film review will require you to summarize passages of the film, but it will also ask you to analyze what the director of the film is trying to accomplish. You'll need to ask questions like these: How does the director, Mike Nichols, view the health care industry? What role does he feel that compassion plays in a person's physical and/or mental health? How can or should health care providers demonstrate compassion and empathy for their patients? How or in what ways do they often fail to do this? With what results? How might the health care industry better serve its clients?
Directions	Follow these directions as you write your review: As you watch the film, attempt to discover what you think the director, Mike Nichols, is trying to accomplish beyond simply telling the story of a woman's fight with cancer. Record your observations as they occur to you while watching the film. Observe how Nichols accomplishes his objective. Write down places in the film to which you might refer that illustrate the strategies Nichols uses for making his purpose clear. Read through any of the articles I've provided you on bed-side manners, looking for statements you might use to support your observations about the film. See below for citations of these articles. Use signal phrases to introduce borrowed information in your review. See pp. 233-236 of your textbook for samples. Cite your sources on a Reference page using APA guidelines you'll find in your textbook (See pp. 236-241). You'll need to study the examples for citations of films, journal articles, and web sites, if you use them. Submit your review according to the directions in the syllabus regarding font size, margins, use of a cover page, length, etc. In addition to a hard copy, submit an electronic copy of your review to me in Word or WordPerfect either on a floppy disk or by attaching it to an e-mail to me at closserb@andrews.edu.
Suggested Outline	Although you are free to organize your review as you choose, Here is an outline you might follow which should result in an effective review: First ParagraphProvide a brief statement about effective relationships between healthcare workers and patients and support it from your reading of articles on bedside manners. In a sentence or two, summarize the plot of *Wit*, briefly telling what it is about. Finish the paragraph with a statement about what you think Mike Nichols, the director, is attempting to do in the film. Middle paragraphsDiscuss how the director accomplishes his purpose. Mention a strategy you notice, discuss this strategy, then illustrate it by referring to the film. Repeat this process until you have analyzed each of the strategies you want to discuss. Refer to your reading where appropriate. AlternativeAfter reading the Davidhizer/Shearer article, use the author's major points about how to develop effective bed-side manners to discuss where health-care workers in the film illustrate or fail to illustrate these principles. Discuss how they do this with references to the film. Final paragraphDiscuss how the film affects viewers. Use yourself as an example of how reviewers respond to the film. Decide what you feel about the film, then assume that other viewers feel similarly. But talk about how the typical viewer of the film responds rather than how you respond personally. ReferencesInclude references to each source you use in APA style. Alphabetize by last name.
Web Sites	If you use a web site as one of your sources, print out a copy of the web site and write the URL on the copy if it is not already there.
Due	A rough draft of this assignment is due by class time on Monday, September 19. Come with whatever you have written, even if you are not completely finished, but try to have a complete draft. You'll have an opportunity to share your draft with members of the class who will be able to make suggestions for revision The revised draft of your review will be due by noon on Monday, September 26. NOTE: This is a change from the syllabus.
Writing Center	You are encouraged to take your Film Review to the Writing Center for a reading. Make an appointment by calling 3358. Allow time to use the consultant's suggestions to make revisions.
Sample	You can see a sample of the film review written for an earlier section of this course. This review, written by Adrienne Redding, analyzes how the film, *Dances with Wolves*, challenges traditional views of Native Americans and invites viewers to shift their allegiances from the U.S. military to the Native Americans. Click here to read the review.
References	References Buckingham, M. Nurses must take time to talk to their patients... 'Nurses' bedside manner: is it deteriorating?" British Journal of Nursing, 11(11): 734. Castledine, G. (2004). Castledine column: The importance of the nurse-patient relationship. British Journal of Nursing, 13(4), 213. Davidhizar, R., & Shearer, R. (1998, March). Improving your bedside manner. Journal of Practical Nursing 48(1), 10-4. Gillan, J. (1999, January 27-February 4). Arena: bedside manner misses the point. Nursing Times 95(4), 22. Gooderidge, C. (1999, January). Is your bedside manner negligent? Professional Nurse, 14(4), 291. Physician bedside manner linked to malpractice suit: laugh, listen to patients to reduce risk. (1997, May). Patient Focused Care 5(5), 58-9. Schrof, J. M. (1998, December 21). Required course: Bedside manner 101: Why doctors shouldn't touch that door handle. U. S. News & World Report 125(24), 66. Tabar, P. (2002, April). PDA analytical tools: the new bedside manner. Healthcare Informatics , 19(4): 14, 16. Vesey, M. (1999, Nov). Prejudice makes a very poor bedside manner. World of Irish Nursing 7(9): 24-5.
Questions?	Call (3172), stop by (Nethery Hall 116), or e-mail me (closserb@andrews.edu), if you have questions.